Pivotal display panel installation



June 2, 1970 o. ALBRIGHT 3,514,883

PIVOTAL DISPLAY PANEL INSTALLATION Filed Aug. 12, 1968 INVENTOR.

ALTO 0. ALBRIGHT BY Q? 13 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,514,883PIVOTAL DISPLAY PANEL INSTALLATION Alto O. Albright, 818 16th Ave. W.,Kirkland, Wash. 98033 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No.573,371,

Aug. 18, 1966. This application Aug. 12, 1968, Ser.

Int. Cl. G09f 11/06 U.S. Cl. 40-67 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thepivotal display panel installation provides for the mounting ofswingable panels between parallel mounting strips in any given positionby means of aligned, longitudinally spaced holes in the strips whichreceive pivot pins projecting from a panel support clamp. The pivot pinsare offset from the central, longitudinal axis of the panel supportclamp to permit the support clamp, which grips one edge of a panel, topivot the panel flush against a support surface.

The present invention relates to novel Structural arrangements formounting informational displays, and more particularly to novel pivotaldisplay panel installations for mounting swingable panels upon avertical support surface.

This application constitutes a continuation-in-part application of myco-pending application entitled Educational Device and Method, U.S. Ser.No. 573,371, filed Aug. 18, 1966 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,425,568.

The importance of visual instruction and student participation asfactors in the education process has been recently recognized. In thepast, education was achieved primarily through lectures ordemonstrations by an instructor followed by attempt by the individualstudents to put the newly learned information to work on a project,experiment or test. Classrooms were designed for this type of education,and little or no attempt was made to effectively utilize classroom wallspace for visual educational aids.

The need has arisen for a simple, inexpensive display system which hasversatility, may be stored in a minimum space, but which may be employedto illustrate a variety of ideas and concepts. Ideally, such a systemshould not only be easily altered to present illustrations in everchanging sequence, but should also be adapted to facilitate the physicalremoval and reinsertion of individual display illustrations withinagiven sequence.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a noveland improved pivotal display panel installation for use in equipping aclassroom or other area with an educational display which is constantlyand readily available to students in addition to personal attention bythe instructor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel andimproved pivotal display installation adapted to mount a plurality ofdisplay panels on a Wall for movement between a display position and astorage position flush against the wall surface.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel andimproved pivotal display installation including a display panel supportclamp having pivot pins offset from the central longitudinal axis of theclamp to permit the clamp and a panel retained thereby to be pivotedflush against a mounting surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel andimproved pivotal display installation including a mounting stripassembly adapted to cooperate with a panel support clamp to permitpanels to be removably mounted in a number of positions along asupporting wall.

Patented June 2, 1970 A still further object of the present invention isto provide a novel and improved pivotal display installation including adisplay panel support clamp pivotally mounted upon a mounting stripassembly for releasably retaining a display panel.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following specificationand appended claims and from the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section of the pivotal display panelinstallation according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the pivotal dis play panelinstallation;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a section of the panel support clamp;and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the panel support clamp with a displaypanel inserted therein.

Referring now to the drawings, the pivotal display installation of thepresent invention indicated generally at 1 includes spaced, parallelmounting strips 2 which support swingable display panels 3. The displaypanels are removably retained by panel support clamps 4 which mount thepanels for swinging movement relative to the mounting strips, and whichmay be inserted in vertically aligned holes 5 and 6 longitudinallyspaced along the mounting strips.

The panels 3 are freely swingable and may be used for presentingillustrations, displays, test questions or any other graphicpresentation. For example, a lecture or instruction may be presented byan instructor from a single panel or from a series of panelsillustrating graphically the information to be learned. The panels maybe sequentially arranged within the mounting strips 2 to depict astep-by-step illustration of techniques such as may be necessary in artsand crafts, the field of music, or any other field without limitation.The sequence may easily be altered during a lecture to either add newpanels or rearrange existing panels.

The panels 3 may remain in full view of the students for use after thelecture is terminated, and selected panels may be removed by a studentand taken to his desk for further study. When no longer in use, thepanels may be folded flush against a supporting wall for storage.

The manner in which the display panels 3 are mounted for use will bebest understood from a study of the details of the pivotal display panelinstallation 1. The mounting strips 2 are generally secured to avertical wall, and a number of vertically spaced mounting strips may beemployed so that the display panels may be positioned at various levels.Also, the mounting strips may be placed in continuous end-to-endrelation without limitation.

Each mounting strip 2, which may be formed by extrusions of plastic,lightweight metals such as aluminum, or in the alternative, woodstripping, is formed 'With a body or web portion 7 connecting two,vertically spaced horizontal flanges 8 and 9. These flanges are providedwith the previously mentioned longitudinally spaced holes 5 and 6respectively which are vertically aligned. The holes 5 and 6, which areused to mount the support clamps 4 in the mounting strips 2, are formedadjacent the outside edge of each of the flanges remote from asupporting wall to which the mounting strips are attached.

To permit the mounting strips 2 to be secured to a wall or other supportsurface, the web portions 7 thereof are provided with apertures 10 whichreceive screws or other suitable securing means 11. Also, guide channels12 and 13 for mounting other wall supported units are de fined by anupwardly extending projection 14 formed on a the top flange 8 and adownwardly extending projection 15 formed on the bottom flange 9. Bothprojections are spaced outwardly from the supporting wall surface towhich the strips 2 are secured as will be noted from FIG. 3.

The support clamp 4 constitutes an elongated, substantially U-shapedstructure of extruded aluminum or similar lightweight material which isof sufficient length to extend between two parallel mounting strips 2.The support clamp is formed by two substantially parallel, rectangularclamping jaws 16 and 17, the inner ends of which are joined by a bodyportion 18. The clamping jaws define an elongated slot 19 which is of awidth substantially equal to the thickness of a panel 3 and which isintended to receive and retain one longitudinal edge of the panel.-

The body portion 18 extends laterally beyond the innermost clamping jaw16 to form an integral post 20 of a length greater than that of theclamping jaws 16 and 17. The post extends outwardly beyond either end ofthe clamping jaws to form upper and lower pivot projections 21 for thesupport clamp 4. Each such pivot projection is dimensioned for insertionin the holes 5 and 6 in the mounting strips 2 and is laterally offsetfrom the clamping jaw 16.

The width of the innermost clamping jaw 16 is greater than that of theoutermost clamping jaw 17 to provide a panel starting lip 22. Theleading edge of the free end of the shorter outermost clamping jaw isbeveled inwardly toward the slot 19 at an angle of approximately 30 asindicated at 23 to permit the edge of a panel guided by the starting lipto enter the slot.

To hold a panel 3 securely within the slot 19 without gluing or the useof separate fastening means, a longitudinally extending lock ridge 24 isformed on the innermost locking jaw 16 intermediate the body portion 18and the beveled leading edge of the locking jaw 17. This locking ridgeis preferably in the form of an inverted V with an inclined leading edge25 forming an apex with an oppositely inclined trailing edge 26.

The lock ridge 24 projects into the slot 19 so that a panel entering theslot is forced up the inclined leading edge 25 thereof. Generally thepanels 3 are formed of corrugated cardboard or similar material so thatthe apex of the locking ridge is forced into the surface of the panel tosecurely retain the panel within the slot.

In the operation of the pivotal display panel installation, the panelsupport clamps 4 may be removed from the mounting strips 2 for theinsertion therein of a desired panel 3. The support clamp is positionedover the edge of the panel with the starting lip 22 resting flushagainst a peripheral surface of the panel. The application of pressureagainst the body 18 and post 20 causes the beveled surface 23 of theclamping jaw 17 to guide the panel into the slot 19. Continued pressurecauses the leading edge of the panel to move up the inclined surface 25of the lock ridge 24 and into contact with the body 18. The lock ridgecompresses the surface of the panel to secure it between the clampingjaws 16 and 17.

With the panel 3 locked within the support clamp 4, the panel may bepositioned in the desired sequence on the mounting strips 2 by insertingthe upper and lower pivot projections 21 in the holes 5 and 6 in spacedmounting strips 2 so that the panel and support clamp extend betweenmounting strips. The panel may now be pivoted relative to the mountingstrips about the pivot projections. It is important to note that offsetrelationship between the pivot projections and the clamping jaws 16 and17 permit the panel to be pivoted to a storage position close to asupporting wall as illustrated in FIG. 2. When sequential panels arestored against a wall surface, the offset design of the pivotprojections permits the panels to lie closer to the wall surface thefurther apart the pivot projections are spaced in the mounting strips 2.

A selected panel 3 may be withdrawn from the support clamp 4 by pullingthe panel outwardly in the slot 19 from the body 18. The inclined rearsurface 26 of the lock ridge 24 aids in releasing the panel from theclamping jaws 16 and 17.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat the present iinvention provides significant improvements in apivotal display panel installation. Changes in the details ofconstruction will suggest themselves and may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, wherefore it is my intentionthat no limitations be implied and that the hereto annexed claims begiven a scope fully commensurate with the broadest interpretation towhich the employed language admits.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. A pivotal display panel mounting unit for use as a demountable unitsupported in aligned mounting holes provided in a pair of spaced,parallel, linear mounting strips secured to a support surfacecomprising: an elongated body portion, panel holding means of sufiicientlength to extend between said two parallel mounting strips, said panelholding means extending from said body portion for receiving theperipheral edge portion of a display panel, aligned pivot projectionspositioned at opposite ends of said body portion and being laterallyoffset extending transversely from said panel holding means, said pivotprojections adapted to mount said panel mounting unit for pivotalmovement in said aligned mounting holes of said parallel mountingstrips.

2. The pivotal display panel mounting unit of claim 1 wherein said panelholding means includes first and second locking jaws extending inparallel, spaced relationship from said body portion the length betweensaid two parallel mounting strips to define an elongated slot of a widthsubstantially equal to the thickness of said display panel, said firstlocking jaw having a locking ridge formed therein at a point between thefree end thereof and said body portion, said locking ridge projectinginto the elongated slot and extending substantially the length of thepanel holding means in substantially parallel relationship to said bodyportion.

3. The pivotal display mounting unit of claim 2 wherein said firstlocking jaw is of greater length than said second locking jaw andextends beyond the free end of said second locking jaw to provide apanel guiding lip for said panel holding means.

4. The pivotal display mounting unit of claim 3 wherein the free end ofsaid second locking jaw is beveled to provide an end surface inclinedtoward said elongated slot.

5. The pivotal display mounting unit of claim 2 wherein said lockingridge includes an inclined lead surface and an oppositely inclinedtrailing surface.

6. The pivotal display mounting unit of claim 5 wherein said bodyportion extends laterally beyond said first locking jaw, said laterallyextending section of said body portion being of a length greater thanthe length of said locking jaws to provide aligned projections atopposite ends of said display mounting unit, said projections formingsaid pivot projections.

7. The pivotal display mounting unit of claim 6 wherein said bodyportion, panel locking means and pivot projections constitute a unitarystructure of extruded material.

8. A demountable pivotal display panel assembly comprising incombination:

a plurality of linear mounting strips adapted to be secured to a supportsurface in spaced, parallel, relationship to hold said demountable panelassembly between adjacent mounting strips, each of said mounting stripsincluding mounting means for cooperation with said demountable panelassembly, said demountable panel assembly including a display panel, anintegral elongated panel support extending the length between saidparallel mounting strip for pivotally mounting said panel assemblybetween said mounting strips, said panel support including panel lockingmeans for receiving said display panel and aligned pivot projectionspositioned at opposite ends of said panel support and being laterallyoffset and extending transversely from said panel locking means, saidpivot projections operative to mount said panel support for pivotalmovement in said mounting strips.

9. The pivotal display panel assembly of claim 8 wherein the saidmounting strips include a body portion for attachment to a supportsurface, said body portion including upper and lower surfaces adapted toextend outwardly from the support surfaces, said mounting means of saidmounting strips including a plurality of vertically alignedlongitudinally spaced holes in each of the upper and lower supportsurfaces adjacent the edge thereof, and said pivot projections of saiddemountable panel assembly adapted to extend through said verticallyaligned holes in said mounting strip.

10. The pivotal display panel assembly of claim 9 wherein said displaypanel is formed of corrugated cardboard, said panel locking meansincluding a body portion and first and second locking jaws extending inparallel, spaced relationship from said body portion to define anelongated panel receiving slot extending substantially the distancebetween said mounting strips and of a width substantially equal to thethickness of said display panel, said first locking jaw having a lockingridge formed therein at a point between the free end thereof and saidbody portion, said locking ridges projecting into said elongated slotsand extending substantially the length thereof, one of said locking jawsbeing of greater length than the other locking jaw, the free end of saidshorter locking jaw being beveled to provide an end surface inclinedtoward said elongated slot.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,866,089 7/1932 Day 401022,138,848 12/1938 Ralston et a1. 40102 2,617,219 11/1952 Conley et al40102 3,092,256 6/ 1963 Vernik 211-169 X EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, PrimaryExaminer R. CARTER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 211169

